for the safety of fishing vessels and the experience gained in the implementation process by Arctic States and other nations, recognizing the importance of fishing vessel safety in the Arctic due to the increased traffic of fishing vessels in the region.
The main objective of this project is to raise awareness of the provisions of the 2012 Cape Town Agreement and the experience gained in the implementation process by Arctic States and other nations, recognizing the importance of fishing vessel safety in the Arctic due to the increased traffic of fishing vessels in the region.
List of Tasks/Activities:
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To establish a Correspondence Group;
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Develop an Arctic Shipping Status Report (ASSR) on fishing vessel activities in the Arctic with its project co-leads;
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Develop a Summary Report that includes the findings from the ASSR Report, and highlights the provisions of the Cape Town Agreement for the Safety of Fishing Vessels, that includes:
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Information on challenges Arctic States or Observer States may have had in ratifying the Agreement;
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Information on national legislation that may be considered to cover wholly or partially the Agreement; and
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An overview of such challenges and national legislative information with suggestions for a way forward.
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The summary report will be presented to PAME for consideration.
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Convene an online webinar for PAME Members and interested Arctic Council Working Groups where States share their experience, and challenges that may have been identified.
IMO attempts to address Fishing Vessel Safety
IMO has been working for many years, alongside other stakeholders, to enhance fishing vessel safety. IMO adopted the Torremolinos International Convention for the Safety of Fishing Vessels in 1977, which was later modified by the 1993 Torremolinos Protocol. As both of these treaties had failed to come into force, IMO later adopted the 2012 Cape Town Agreement.
The 2012 Cape Town Agreement is therefore the key IMO treaty to address fishing vessel safety. The Agreement includes mandatory international requirements for stability and associated seaworthiness, machinery and electrical installations, life-saving appliances, communications equipment and fire protection, as well as fishing vessel construction. The 2012 Cape Town Agreement will improve the safety of life at sea for hundreds of thousands of fishers worldwide, including in Polar waters, as well as having other benefits.